Striking bag machine



Jan. 15, 1935. J F. MEYER 1,987,859

STRIKING BAG MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 15, 1935. J. F. MEYER STRIKING BAG MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F. MEYER 1,987,859

STRIKING BAG MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1932 Jan. 15, 1935.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 rmq Jan. 15, 1935. MEYER 1,987,859

I STRIKING BAG MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l atented Jan. 15, 193

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to coin operated amusement machines and its primary object is to provide a. novel machine for determining the force of the blow by the operator's foot on an inflated ball 455 in the machine.

Anobject of the invention is also to provide a novel machine for affording entertainment and information tothe operator who kicks the ball as he would in playing the game of football.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of novel and simple construction comprising an inflated ball adapted to be kicked by the operator to actuate mechanism for indicating the force of the blow on a conveniently 10- cated chart forming part of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding the indicating device in indicating position. until the machine is again operated to place the ball in operative position.

Other objects of the invention are'to provide -means for locking the ball in inoperative. position after each operation of the machine, to provide coinoperated means for releasing the locking means, and to provide means to insure only one operation of the machine for each coin introduced therein. I In the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a selected embodimentof the invention Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

I Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the machine mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the ball releasing and coin operated mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the indicator release mechanism and the bumper spring.

Fig- 6 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the ball releasing mechanism in releasing position.

Fig. '7 is a deta'l vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 showing the coin operated mechanism.

. Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view of the coin operated mechanism and the chute safety device. 1

- Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the indicator and showing the indicator locking device, and

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9 showing in dotted lines the indicator locking device in release position.

Referring to the drawings, a ball 11 preferably of leather having a separate inflated rubber lining, is mounted on the end of a supporting lever arm 12 pivoted at 13 in a bracket in the base of the machine, An opening 14 is provided in the front of the machine and a slot 15 extends downwardly therefrom to permit movement of the ball and supporting lever arm 12 about the pivot 13. A cushion 16 of rubber, felt, or like material, is provided at the bottom of the slot 15 to cushion .the supporting lever arm 12 when it drops into 10 lowered or operative position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3. When the ball is in the lowered po sition the operator kicks it thereby pivoting the ball 11 and supporting lever arm 12 about the pivot 13 into raised or inoperative position where 15 the ball strikes the board 17. The board 1'? is mounted on the indicator actuating lever 18 which. is pivotally mounted to a spacer block 19 at 20. The spacer block 19 is fastened to the machine cabinet by bolts 21. The indicator actu- 20 'ating lever 18 passes through a U-shaped stop 22which limits the movement of the indicator actuating lever about the pivot 20. A spring 18 holds the actuating lever 18 in normal position and also absorbs part of theblow imparted to the ball 11. The stop device is provided with cushions 23 to absorb the jar and consequent noise resulting from the movement of the indicator actuating lever.

The end of the indicator actuating lever extends beneath a weighted indicator 24 and is bifurcated to receive the indicator guide rod 25 and the indicator cushion 26. The indicator guide rod 25 is mounted on and extends vertically from a bracket 27 on the machine cabinet. The indicator cushion is fastened to the indicator guide rod beneath the indicator. The indicator has the configuration of a football and is slidably mounted on the guide rod 25. A bell 28 is mounted at the upper end of the guide rod and is adapted to be struck by the indicator. A spring pressed pawl 29 is carried on the indicator and is armn'gemo engage a series of lugs 30 on the rock shaft 31 and thereby retain the indicator in the elevated position to which it has been thrown in the operation of the machine.

A link 32, Fig. 4, has one of its ends pivotally mounted to an arm 33 fastened to and extending from the rock shaft 31. The other end of the link has an elongated slot 34, Fig. 3, therein to receive an end of the pin which is mounted in the supporting lever arm 12. When the ball 11 is placed in its lowered position the pin 35 engages the end of the slot 34 thereby turning the rock shaft 31 to the dotted line position in Figs. and 10. The lugs 30 are thus turned from under the pawl 29 allowing the indicator to drop to lowered position.

When the ball is kicked by the operator the supporting lever arm swings about its pivot 13 releasing the end of the slot 34 from engagement by the pin 35. The spring 36 fastened to the machine cabinet and to the link 32 then returns the rock shaft 31 to its normal position to place the lugs 30 in the path of the pawl 29.

A block37 mounted on the machineacabinet carries a bumper spring 38 retained in place in the path of the supporting lever arm 12 by screw 39, Fig. 5, for the purpose of absorbingpart of the blow imparted on the ball by the 'operator.

A coin chute 40 is provided to directarcoin'to the coin receiving slot 41 in the coin carrier 42. The discharge end of thecoin chute "40 isprovided with a side flap 43, Fig. 8, hingedratw44 on the chute. A spring 45 keeps the flap normally 'closed but in the event :that acoindarger than the coin intended to operate the machineiis ideposited in the chute it will be deposited in 'the coin receiving slot but will also extend far enough above the slot to be within the end of the chute .and a forced movement of the COiIl'Will swing the flap open to allow a discharge of the coin without damage to the chute. An operating handle 46, Fig 1, is placed outside the machine cabinet on the end or" the operating rod 47. At the .lower end of the operating rod within the cabinet is an operating lever 48 rigidly seouredthereto. A slide 49 interposed between guides 50, 51 has a lug 52 mounted thereon for engagement with the operating lever 48. The guides 50 and 51are connected by links 53 and-54 which are located over the slide 49. The coin receiving slot '41 is formed between the angle55 fastened to the slide 49 and the coin carrier 42 spaced from bracket 55 by spacer 56. The spacer56 andithe coin carrier 42 are fastened to the angle '55 by the 'bolt 55 and are carried thereby. The carrier v42 is'a plate bent downwardly at 57, 'Fig. 7,-to form one side of the receiving slot 41. The remaining portion of the carrierzacts as a stop to halt movement of the coin downwardly out of ;the chute 40 when the operating 'handle 46 isoperated to move the'slide 49 and the receiving slot 41.

A'latch 58 pivoted at 59-has'a hookportion60 thereon adapted to engage the supporting lever arm 12 when in its raised position. When the ball is in operative position and a blowis struck thereon as by being kickedbythe operator, the ballis forced toward the opening 14, and as the ball moves into its inoperative position in this ball-receiving portion or opening 14, the latch 58 engages arm 12 and limitsrebound of the ball to prevent it=from moving out of the opening 14 after it strikes the boardl'l. The latch-58 also has a projection 61 adapted to-engage a coin 62 inithe coin receiving slot 41, as shown in'Fig.'6. "A spring .63 is adapted to maintain thellatchin supporting lever arm locking position.

A spring 64, Fig. 4, is adapted to hold thelug52 on the slide 49 always in engagement with the "operating lever 48. When a coin .is deposited inthechute 40 it drops into the coin receiving slot 41 and the operator moves the operating lever 48 by means of a handle 46 the slide 49 willtravel .totheright, Figs. 4, 6 and 7, and the coin 62'will ,engageitheprojection 61 topivot the latch 58 to remove the 'hook iportion 60 from engagement withthesupporting lever arm 12-whereuponthe spring-.65 will throw the supportingdeversarm 12 inglever arm 12. v to the supporting lever arm'12for thepurpose of preventing an-operator from removing the latch over the center and allow the supporting lever arm and ball to drop into lowered position.

During the downward movement of the supporting lever arm the pin 35, Fig. 5, will strike the end of the elongated slot 66, Fig. 3, in the link 67 which is pivotally attached to the vertical lever 68 at 69, pulling the link 67 to the right, Fig. 3, and pivoting the vertical lever 68 in the bracket 70 in which it is mounted. The vertical lever 68 strikes the horizontal lever 71 and moves the leverin theslot '73 in its guide 7 4:untilthe end of the horizontal lever '71 strikes the end of the :slide 49 forcing it further to the right as shown .inbroken lines in Fig. 6. brings "the coin 62 over the cutout portion '75 in 'thel'fram'e allowing the coin to discharge into the This further movement coin receptacle '76. The spring 63 will then return the latchinto'locking position and the spring 77,.-Fig.3,.-attached to the arm 78 on the operating rod 47, will return the handle 46 to normal position. :After the ball has "been kicked, the spring 64 returnsthelslide 49to normalposition.

The pin-35 will strikethe otherlend of Ltheslot 66 andireturnithe vertical lever168ito :normal position. The movement of the slide .49to;the:lever, Fig. 6, will throw .the horizontal :lever '71 into normal position.

If no coin is deposited in the chute 40 :and consequentlyno coin beingzplaced in thelreceiving slot 41, movementzof .the operating lever 48 merelypass 'over theiprojection 61 and there will be no engagementthereof'to:release thesupport- A -guard 79 is-rigidly fastened from leaking position without the insertion I of a coin into the machine.

It will bereadily seen from the foregoingdescription thatl have provided an amusement machine which may be'used to=indicatelthe force'of into striking position-only after-theinsertion of a "coin into 'themachine. Furthermore it isevident that the parts arereturned to inoperative position after the striking of a blow on'th'ememher and will not again be placed in operative positionluntilthe insertion of a proper coin, and if a coin other than the coin intended .to operate the machine is inserted no damageto the machine will result therefrom.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention it ,is to 'be understood that this is capable of variation-and modification and .I therefore do1not wish .to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and "alterations as fall within-the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In a striking bag machine,-an arm-carrying aballadapted to'be struck,-means pivotally supporting said arm 'for movement in a plane extending at right angles to the vertical center plane of said pivot means, saidarm being movable pastathecenter plane of saidpivotmeans into a lower operative position and an upper inoperative position, .a releasable latch engageable with said armto retainsaid arm in .inoperativeiposition, .and :means for moving said I arm 'past :said center :plane .upon .the releasing of "said latch whereby said arm may freely fall into lower operative position.

2. In a striking bag machine including a housing having an opening therein, an arm carrying a ball adaptedJt-o be struck, means in said housing pivotally supporting said arm for movement in past said center plane to and from said opening, a releasable latch engageable with said arm to 'retainsaid arm to locate said ball in said opening,

and means for moving said arm past said center plane to remove said ball from said opening upon the releasing of said latch whereby said arm may freely fall into a lower operative position after movement thereof past said center plane.

3. In a striking bag machine, a housing including an inclined front wall having an opening therein and a slot extending downwardly from said opening, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck, means in said housing pivotally supporting said arm whereby said arm may move through said slot past the vertical center plane of said pivot means to position said ball in an upper inoperative position in said opening on one side of said vertical center plane or in a lower operative position in front of said wall on the other side of said vertical center plane, a releasable latch engageable with said arm to retain said arm to hold said ball in said upper inoperative position, and means for moving said arm past said Vertical center plane upon the releasing of said latch whereby said arm may freely fall into said lower operative position after movement thereof past said vertical center plane.

4. In a striking bag machine, indicating means including an actuating part, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement in a plane extending at right angles to said pivot means whereby said ball may be moved into a lower position whereat a blow may be struck thereon to pivot said arm in said plane into an upper position to actuate said actuating part, yieldable means engageable with said arm to absorb a part of the movement imparted to said arm when a blow is struck on said ball, and a latch engageable with said arm and cooperating with said yieldable means to retain said arm between said yieldable means and said latch and limit rebound of said arm away from said yieldable means upon engagement of said arm with said yieldable means.

5. In a striking bag machine, indicating means including a strikable part, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement in a vertical plane extending at right angles to said pivot means whereby said ball may be moved into a lowered position whereat a blow may be struck thereon to pivot said arm in said vertical plane and engage said ball with said strikable part, spring means disposed in the path of movement of said arm and adapted to be engaged by said arm when a blow is struck on said ball and adapted to absorb a part of the movement imparted to said arm when a blow is struck on said ball, and a latch engageable with said arm and including a retaining part disposed in the path of movement of said arm and movable out of said path by engagement of the arm with the retaining part upon movement of said arm and said ball toward said strikable part and spring means, said retaining part engaging said arm'after said arm has moved past said retaining part to thereby retain said arm between said spring means and said retaining part.

6. In a striking bag machine, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck, means in said housing l pivotally supporting said arm for movement in a plane extending at right angles to thecenter plane of said pivot'means, said arm being movable past the center plane of said pivot means into a lower operative position and an upper inoperative position whereby'a blow may be struck on said ball when it is in operative position to pivot said arm in said plane into'said upper inoperative position, yieldable means engageable with said arm to absorb a part'of the movement imparted to said arm when a-blow is struck on said ball, a latch for retaining said arm in inoperative position after a blow has been struck on said ball and said arm has engaged said yieldable means, and means for moving said arm past said center plane and away from said yieldable means upon the releasing of said latch whereby said arm may freely fall into lower operative position after movement thereof past said vertical center plane.

7. In a striking bag machine, indicating means including an actuating part, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck, means pivotally supporting said arm for movement in a plane extending at right angles to the vertical center plane of said pivot means, said arm being movable past said vertical center plane of said pivot means into a lower operative position and an upper inoperative position whereby a blow may be struck on said ball when it is in operative position topivot said arm upwardly in said plane to actuate said actuating part, yieldable means engageable with said arm to absorb a part of the movement imparted to said arm when a blow is struck on said ball and said actuating part is actuated, a latch including a retaining part adapted to be moved out of the path of movement of said arm when a blow is struck on said ball and movable into the path of movement of said arm after movement of said arm past the retaining part to thereby retain said arm in inoperative position after a blow has been struck on said ball and said actuating part has been actuated and said arm has engaged said yieldable means, and means for moving said arm past said vertical center plane and away from said yieldable means upon the releasing of said latch whereby said arm may freely fall into lower operative position after movement thereof past said vertical center plane.

8. In a striking bag machine, a housing including an inclined front wall having an opening therein and a slot extending downwardly from said opening, indicating means including an actuating part arranged behind said opening, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck, means in said housing pivotally supporting said arm whereby said arm may move through said slot past the vertical center plane of said pivot means to position said ball in an upper inoperative position in said opening on one side of said vertical center plane and in juxtaposition to said actuating part or in a lower operative position in front of said wall on the other side of said vertical center plane, a releasable latch engageable with said arm to retain said arm to hold said ball in inoperative position after a blow has been struck on said ball and said ball has engaged said actuating part to operate said indicating means to indicate the force of the blow struck on said ball, and means for moving said arm past said vertical center plane whereby saidball may freely fall toward operative position upon the releasing of said latch;

9. In aistriking bag machine; a housing, including an inclined front wall having an opening therein and a slot extending downwardly from said opening,.indicating means-including an actuating part. arranged behind saidopening, an arm carrying a ball adapted to be struck,. means in said housing pivotally supporting-said armwhereby said arm may move through said slot past the vertical center plane of said pivot means to position said ball in an upper inoperative position in said opening on one side of said vertical center plane and in juxtaposition to said actuating part or in a lower operative position in front of said wall on the other side of said vertical center plane,

ment imparted to said arm when a blow is'struck on said ball and said ball is driven into said opening and engages'said actuating part to operate saidindicating means to indicate the force of the blow struck on said ball, a latch engageable with said arm to retain said arm in inoperative position after ablow has been struck on said ball and said actuating means has been actuated and said arm has engaged said yieldable means and adapted to prevent rebounding of said arm, and means for moving said arm past said center plane and away from said yieldable means upon the releasing of said latch whereby said arm may freely fall into lower operative position after movement thereof past said center plane.

JOHN F. MEYER.

yieldable; means for absorbing a part of the move- 

